When the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Bubba Wallace will be zipping around the track in a different car number for 23XI Racing—No. 45.
That car, which is usually driven by Kurt Busch this season, is eligible for the owners’ championship, but Busch is out indefinitely due to concussion-like symptoms. Ty Gibbs, 19, had been subbing in his place since Busch’s qualifying crash that resulted in the injury at Pocono Raceway in July.
Wallace will now race in the No. 45 to maximize points for the owners’ championship in the final 10 competitions while Gibbs races in the No. 23. Aside from the number swap, 23XI Racing says there won’t be any primary partner changes on the cars.
